SON OF SEABISCUIT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 147, 23 June 1945, Page 12

SON OF SEABISCUIT

FAME COMES EARLY

DOUBLE TO SEA SWALLOW

During his career on the Turf in America Seabiscuit won £874,000 in stake-money,1 which carried him to the head, of the world's big winners, although he was later deposed by Whirlaway, who brought in over 100,000 dollars more. Seabiscuit was a. son of that other famous American sire, Mano' War, and he promises to maintain the prestige of his sire for years to •come. Last November Seabiscuit was represented by his first stakes winner, Sea Swallow, who even when racing wa!s banned in the United States was kept in training at Santa Anita Park. He went across the border into Mexico for the Derby Trial on April 14 and the Tijuana Derby a week plater. In both instances he went to* the front early to stay there. In the Derby Trial the Seabiscuit colt ran the mile in 1.36 3-5, which reduced the track record three-fifths' of a second. Altogether he has started 17 times for five firsts, two seconds, and one third, his stake earnings (the Tijuana Derby excepted) being 20,569 dollars.

Booming.—Racing in Mexico boomed during the period the sport was inactive in the United States. Officials were predicting a boom eclipsing the year when the "Red Terror" (Phar Lap) won the Aqua Caliente Handicap. Incidentally, the meeting carries the new title of Hipodromo de Tijuana. The authorities run a 30-odd day meeting with 12 races daily, there being an average of 10 horses per race.

Did Not Run On.—When he commenced to bridge the gap on the leaders in the Rangitira Hurdles at Awapuni Betterman looked like taking part in the finish, but he found the pace too hot for him and he dropped back again to finish some seven lengths from the second horse. In view of his Ellerslie form "better things were expected of him; indeed, both he and Hunting Mac proved very expensive to backers.

Needs Racing.—A long way out of the running over the first mile, High Morale was putting in some good work over the last five furlongs in the Rangitira Hurdles at Awapuni. As he had not sported silk since October he should be improved by the outing. It was at Trentham last July that High Morale brought off a surprise win in the big hurdles on the opening day of the Winter Meeting, but he fell at the first obstacle on the second day. Under Orders.—Royal Flight has been kept going in the far south with a view of racing at the Wellington Meeting. Her mission will be the iWhyte Handicap, a race she won last ! season as a three-year-old. i First Win.—Although she had to be hard ridden to take the honours in the Ngata Hack and Hunters' Hurdles at AwapunL Mary Jo stayed on in good style after having to be sent along over the last half-mile. She showed a lot of promise at her first attempt at Wanganui, and her pace stood her in good stead. , Good Return.—There was a record double dividend at the Wayville Trotting Meeting in Australia last month when the combination,. Master Wilkes and Hushyle's Globe, returned £515 10s 9d for 4s. There were 52 tickets on the winner of the first "leg," but only one ticket was exchanged for Hushlye's Globe. In the betting Master Wilkes was: 20-1, and -Hushlyes Very We'll.—Having his first outing for some nionths, Kaitoa looked particularly well when he paraded for the Rongptea Handicap, 7 furlongs, _at Awapuni. He was handy in behind the pacemakers to the. straight enItrance, and when an.opening came his rider pushed him through to have the race won at the distance. Thereafter it was only a matter of keeping him going to win. This Man's Pal gelding should win again in the near future. Fair Effort.—When she commenced her run in the open seven furlongs at Awapuni Bridge Acre threatened danger, but the Foxbridge filly was unable to bridge the gap and had to be content with fourth. She has had an easy time of late, but she. bears little evidence of it, riot having filled out to any appreciable extent. Bold Showing.—A speedster in his hack outings on the flat, Silver Note went dose to bringing off a big surprise in the hack hurdles at Awapuni. The Hunting Song gelding was taken to the front a long way from home and, with five furlongs to go, he looked the likely winner. : However, Mary Jo ran him down over the last threfe furlongs, but it was a promising showing. Weakened. —When he commenced to work forward in the last half-mile in the hack hurdles at the Manawatu Meeting Auld Mackay threw out a challenge to Mary Jo and Silver Note, but lack of condition told against him and he was weakening over the final furlong. This northerner looks like making good in the' role. v Disappointed.—Judged on His Auckland showing Sporting Gold appeared to have a good chance of success in the hack grade at Awapuni. /He was handy throughout the full journey, but dropped, back half a mile from home. The Sporting Blood gelding looked particularly well and little excuse could be advanced for his failure. Finished On.—Both Patu-Ra and The Monarch came into the picture over the last few furlongs in the Ngata Hack and Hunters' Hurdles. The former showed improvement in his fencing to be a fair fourth, with The Monarch finishing on to beat Sporting Gold for fifth. Both should do well with' experience. Setting Up.—A provisional trainers licence has been granted M. N. Caddy, who is setting up in the profession at Te Rapa. Caddy was severely injured when riding Not Guilty in a flat race at the Franklin Meeting two years ago. Two of his charges will be Harris Tweed and the Bulandshar —Accomplice two-year-old Bhiru. Will Improve. —Having his first outing since October, Observatory ran quite a creditable race at the Manawatu Meeting. The half-brother to the brilliant Surmount should not take long to recover winning form. Easy Win.—Even though his, form this season had not been particularly impressive, Good Bay, a visitor from the north, took the Ruahine Hack (Handicap No. 1 at Awapuni very easily. A brother to Donegal Bay, his display suggests that he might yet reach the heights of his relative. He is certainly well enough bred, coming from Good Conduct, the dam being a halfsister to that good race mare, Civility. Better Showing.—Some of the progeny of Rhodes Scholar have shown a good turn of .speed, and Brilliant Scholar showed ■ improvement on her previous efforts when she got up for third in the Ruahini Hack Handicap No. lat Awapuni. She carries the colours of her breeder, Mr. W. G. Shannon, who also has the sire at the stud. ' , , Late Effort. —Earlier in the current term Ganges showed promise of winning a race but trouble overtook him; He made his reappearance at Awapuni last Saturday and made quite a good effort, coming from several places back for fourth. As he handles bad ground well, his turn should come before the winter activities are over. Went Wide. —Despite being badly drawn at the barrier. Prince Wheriko made a smart beginning in the Ruahine Hack Handicap No. 1 at Awapuni to be in the van the whole way. However, swinging into the straight his rider allowed him to run a shade wideband the Wheriko gelding was not. persevered with. Faded Out. —Topweight and favourite for his engagement at Awapuni, Black Beret played a prominent role right to the straight entrance, but he then cried enough. Not particularly big, his poundage of 10.0 in the heavy going probably told its tale, and he may be forced to do his future racing in the higher grade. Solid Run. —Even though his effort came late in the piece when some of those just outside of the placed division were being eased, the Trentham-train-ed Nanook came home particularly well in the first hack sprint at Awapuni. By Foxlight, he is from Katrina, a well-bred mare by Catmint from Warstar and tracing to the Musket mare Hilda, the founder of a brilliant family in this country. Nanook is destined for hurdling.